How to Make Four-Inch-Deep Shelving

Related Articles

Small shelves are convenient. Use them for knickknacks, trophies, crafts or pictures. They work well for household products, tools or items that you need to keep within arm's reach in your garage or shop. This type of shelf doesn't support extreme amounts of weight, and doesn't need excessive bracing. There's two ways to build this type of shelf; between the studs or fastened directly to the wall.

Built-In Shelf

Two-by-four studs are 3-1/2 inches wide. Drywall is typically 5/8 inches thick. There are 16-inch spaces between the studs. it's a perfect location for a 4-inch-wide shelf. Start by selecting the location for the shelf. Run a stud finder along the wall in the selected spot to locate two or more studs behind the drywall. Run a noncontact voltage meter along the wall to ensure there are no wires between the studs. Use a level to draw a horizontal line between the studs representing the bottom of the shelf. Draw vertical lines to represent the desired height of the opening, depending on how tall the items are that you plan on putting on the shelf. Draw another horizontal line to represent the top of the opening.

Cut and Build

Drill into the opening using a 1/2-inch drill bit. Insert the blade of a reciprocating saw into the hole and cut the drywall flush to the sides of the studs. Cut along the top and bottom horizontal lines and remove the piece of drywall from the wall. Cut two 3-inch-long blocks from a piece of scrap stud. Apply glue to one side and insert them into the opening on the studs on both sides, with the tops of the blocks 3/4-inch below the bottom of the cutout to support the shelf. Shoot 2-inch nails or construction staples through the blocks to secure them to the studs, or use screws if you don't have a nail/staple gun. Measure the distance between the studs and cut one piece of 3/4-by-4-inch hardwood plywood or lumber to the measurement for the shelf. Insert the shelf into the opening on top of the blocks. Shoot nails or use screws to fasten the shelf to the top of the blocks. Sand the sides of the drywall smooth with sandpaper and finish the opening with paint, or stain and varnish. You can install a top to seal the opening on on top if desired using the same method. For longer shelves, open consecutive spaces between the studs.

Brace for Extended Shelf.

Four-inch-wide shelves don't need large braces. A single piece of lumber nailed or screwed to the wall is enough to support them. Start by running a stud finder along the wall to locate all of the studs that will pass behind the shelf. Draw a horizontal line on the wall to represent the bottom of the shelf. Use a noncontact voltage meter to locate any wires that may be in the wall, and move or adjust the position of the shelf to avoid the wires if necessary. Place a piece of 3/4-by-1 1/2-inch hardwood lumber flat on the wall with the top of it flush with the line. Mark the locations of each stud on the hardwood and use a 3/16-inch drill bit to drill a pilot holes through the hardwood for each stud. Hold the hardwood flush with the line on the wall. Use 2-inch screws to secure the hardwood to the wall.

Attach the Extended Shelf.

Use hardwood plywood for an economy shelf, or hardwood lumber for a finished look. Cut the selected 4-inch-wide material to length for the shelf. Drill pilot holes 3/8 inch from the back edge, spaced at 4 inch intervals along the length of the shelf. Add glue to the bottom of the shelf and place it directly on top of the 1 1/2-inch piece that you previously screwed to the wall. Place 2-inch screws in the holes. Hold it tight against the wall and drive the screws into the strip on the wall to secure the shelf to the wall. If you have larger C-clamps place them on the shelf and tighten before screwing the shelf to the brace. Paint the shelf as desired. If you plan on finishing it, add stain and varnish before you install it. For an ornate shelf, add raised molding to the front, or rout a decorative edge on the shelf before installing it.

About the Author

Specializing in hardwood furniture, trim carpentry, cabinets, home improvement and architectural millwork, Wade Shaddy has worked in homebuilding since 1972. Shaddy has also worked as a newspaper reporter and writer, and as a contributing writer for Bicycling Magazine. Shaddy began publishing in various magazines in 1992, and published a novel, “Dark Canyon,” in 2008.